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Anyone shooting .224 valkyrie?

spudgun

Thinking of converting one of my AR to .224 valkyrie.

Anyone using .224 for long range?

If so what would be the best barrel length and twist rate?
 
I have two Valkyrie's. One in on a AR the other on a switch barrel among my Savage action/s.
The AR is 20 inch SS, 1/7 twist.
The switch barrel is 18 inch SS, 1/7 twist.
Either work well for me so far. The 1/7 is the recommended twist for the use of heavier bullets. I would go with the 20-24 length barrel, but depending also on how you shoot, bench or walk about and if you will be putting on a muffler. SMILE.
So far I have only shot out to around 400 yrds, with a few at 500. either is working well.
I have used the 77 to 80 grain bullets at the longer ranges, and the 55 grain sp's for under and have shot some Rock chucks and a few coyotes. I must say the 55 grn bullets are not good on game if you want to save fur. The do expand and open large exit holes. But I don't save fur, so they are fine for me.
I have settled on CFE 223 as the powder of choice. and You can find loads to start with and work up on the Hornady Data site.
Have fun with yours and report some kills, when you get going.

Note. I may stick with the 55 gr Sp's or may go to a 60 gr tipped bullet for my varmint shooting. Will see how the 60's do compared to the 55's, of which I have 400 or so to use.
 
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Bill K said:
I have two Valkyrie's. One in on a AR the other on a switch barrel among my Savage action/s.
The AR is 20 inch SS, 1/7 twist.
The switch barrel is 18 inch SS, 1/7 twist.
Either work well for me so far. The 1/7 is the recommended twist for the use of heavier bullets. I would go with the 20-24 length barrel, but depending also on how you shoot, bench or walk about and if you will be putting on a muffler. SMILE.
So far I have only shot out to around 400 yrds, with a few at 500. either is working well.
I have used the 77 to 80 grain bullets at the longer ranges, and the 55 grain sp's for under and have shot some Rock chucks and a few coyotes. I must say the 55 grn bullets are not good on game if you want to save fur. The do expand and open large exit holes. But I don't save fur, so they are fine for me.
I have settled on CFE 223 as the powder of choice. and You can find loads to start with and work up on the Hornady Data site.
Have fun with yours and report some kills, when you get going.

Note. I may stick with the 55 gr Sp's or may go to a 60 gr tipped bullet for my varmint shooting. Will see how the 60's do compared to the 55's, of which I have 400 or so to use.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

I have been told the 22 or 24" barrel is the way to go with this caliber.

I do reload so i will be working up some loads for this.

I will be mostly bench shooting this gun as I now shoot 600 yds with my Savage 6.5CM.

Can you tell me the barrel manufacture for you AR conversion?

I see BCA has a 22" barrel and have used them in the past for other guns I built.

Did you just replace the bolt or the complete BCG on you AR conversion?
 
My gunsmith used a Shilen barrel and I only replaced the bolt head, with a 6.8 spc. That way I can switch back to the 223 bolt head if I place a upper on that uses a cartridge for it.
 
Bummer, just checked Shilen's website and looks like they no longer offer a .224 Valkyrie barrel for AR platform.
 
spudgun said:
Bummer, just checked Shilen's website and looks like they no longer offer a .224 Valkyrie barrel for AR platform.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of good makers of the barrels. Check out what is offered by Pac-nor, Ragged hole barrels, McGowen and others.
 
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I built 3 of them so far all with BCA 22" bbls. 1/7" twists, bought the barrels & bolts from Midsouth shooters supply and if I build any more I will not use BCA again. I ran a scope through them when I recieved them & was very disappointed in the crummy rifling. IMO they do a poor job cutting them, some spots in each of the barrels looked like there was no rifling, then deep then shallow & pitting in all 3. They shoot right at an inch at 100 yds with 55-75g bullets and around 4" at 600 yards, with horndays 75g JHP match bullet. Good enough for the AR15s I built for a few ranch hands that wanted a .224 Valkyrie for coyote to deer. They work overall for the intended use. I would not depend on them for a match though.
 
5spd said:
I built 3 of them so far all with BCA 22" bbls. 1/7" twists, bought the barrels & bolts from Midsouth shooters supply and if I build any more I will not use BCA again. I ran a scope through them when I recieved them & was very disappointed in the crummy rifling. IMO they do a poor job cutting them, some spots in each of the barrels looked like there was no rifling, then deep then shallow & pitting in all 3. They shoot right at an inch at 100 yds with 55-75g bullets and around 4" at 600 yards, with horndays 75g JHP match bullet. Good enough for the AR15s I built for a few ranch hands that wanted a .224 Valkyrie for coyote to deer. They work overall for the intended use. I would not depend on them for a match though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. I have used BCA in the past and had good luck, but I didn't build a long range gun with them.
 
spudgun said:
Thanks for the info.

However all the barrels I would be interested in a on back order.

I wonder who makes the barrels for them?
Click to expand...

I think Valk is new enough that for WO in particularly and probably all suppliers it is worth contacting them rather than waiting for things to go from back order to in stock. I mean, if you call they may get you what you want long before they'll make it for stock.
 
Ok, thinking of ordering a barrel. They have several options and I am going with a SS, 24" length, 1" dia Bull with no threads and 11 degree target crown.

Is there any advantage to have the barrel threaded for flash/suppressor when shooting long range?
 
n 8 twist barrel will stabilize everything from 80gr down. The 80 Amax and 80 Berger VLD may work better with a 7.7 but they will shoot in an 8 twist at the velocity a V can push them
A 9 twist will handle everything from the 69gr SMK down.
Just my opinion from past experience with the 90smk in service rifle highpower, they need the 6.5 twist to stay accurate at longer ranges 600yds+
 
Lannister said:
n 8 twist barrel will stabilize everything from 80gr down. The 80 Amax and 80 Berger VLD may work better with a 7.7 but they will shoot in an 8 twist at the velocity a V can push them
A 9 twist will handle everything from the 69gr SMK down.
Just my opinion from past experience with the 90smk in service rifle highpower, they need the 6.5 twist to stay accurate at longer ranges 600yds+
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on the bullet weights. I do reload and it looks like the barrel will be 1:8 twist rate.
 
I am going to build a .224 Valkyrie on the AR platform. I have read and watched several video and articles about the gun, however for the bullet has me puzzled. Since the lower grain bullets 50 - 62 gr are the same ones I use for my .223 where does the advantage come in? Valkyrie is said to be a 1000 yd bullet, I have difficulties with my .223, 20", 1:8 twist barrel, 55 - 60 gr past 350 yds. It seems that the muzzle velocities are about the same for both .224 and .223 (3000 - 3200 FPS) I thought the .224 Valkrie bullet design was different, like the 6.5 CM but find out my Vmax bullets in .223 will work for Valkyrie. So I'm thinking it must be the heavier bullets that make a differance in the performance like the 90 gr.
 
I would recommend the 22 Nosler before the Valkyrie if you want a varmimt/coyote killing laser out to 400. Ammo will be harder to find than .223 and more expensive but quite a bit faster round. I think you've just gotta weigh cost against extra speed. The Valkyrie is a slower round because of the long high bc bullets which it is built around. I don't see any advantage unless you are shooting at extended ranges. The 22 Nosler about as fast and flat as you are gonna get in a production ar 22 cal round.
 
Lannister said:
I would recommend the 22 Nosler before the Valkyrie if you want a varmimt/coyote killing laser out to 400. Ammo will be harder to find than .223 and more expensive but quite a bit faster round. I think you've just gotta weigh cost against extra speed. The Valkyrie is a slower round because of the long high bc bullets which it is built around. I don't see any advantage unless you are shooting at extended ranges. The 22 Nosler about as fast and flat as you are gonna get in a production ar 22 cal round.
Click to expand...

I'm looking for long range target shooting. I shoot 6.5CM, 600 yds now and looking for something different to take to the range. I do know about the 22 and 25 Nosler rounds. Was thinking a year ago about buying that round for shooting but went to 6.5CM instead.
Thanks for the info
 
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